Mail sorter



May 3, 1938. F. 1.. FULLER MAIL SORTER Filed May 2'7, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet l myspgyw MW' ATTORNEY May 3, 1938. F. FULLER 2,115,305

MAIL SORTER Filed May 27, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .FIG.4.

INV N O. WXM Sim/ZN I ATTORNEY May 3, 1938.

F. L. FULLER MAIL SORTER Filed May 27, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F.L.FULLERMay 3, 1938.

MAIL SORTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fi 1ed May 27, 1956 ATTORNEY Patented May3, 1938 2,115,805

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAIL SORTER Frederick L. Fuller, WestOrange, N. J., assignor to International Business Machines Corpora- %on,New York, N. Y., a corporation of New ork Application May 27, 1936,Serial No. 81,988

14 Claims. (01. 198-42) This case relates to a machine for sorting mail,Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of part of Fig. particularly letters.2 showing the manner ofassembly of a gravity The general object is toprovide a compact maduct to the front wall of the letter insert cabinet.chine for handling large quantities of mail and Fig. 4 is a side view ofthe machine, rapidly sorting them into separate batches. Fig. 5 is asection on lines B--5 of Fig. 1, 5 Another object is to interfit themail guiding Figs. 6 and 7 are sections, respectively, on lines parts ofthe sorting machine ina manner provid- 8-8 and 'Il of Fig. 4,

ing smooth riding surfaces for the mail by pro- Fig. 8 is a detail of aguide plate, viding Joints between the separate parts of the Fig. 9 is adetail plan view of a guide plate supmail guiding means of such a natureas to preporting and spacing bar, and 0 sent no obstructions, at eitherside of the guide Fig. 10 is a section on lines I 0Ill of Fig. 5. parts,to the free flow of the mail. The machine frame is made up of verticalsup- It is an object also to provide a mail insert duct ports I ll, eachcomprising a built-up truss strucfor gravity feeding the mail and shapedto eject ture (see Figs. 4 and 6). At each side, the truss 5 theinserted letter to conveying mechanism withstructures support parallel,horizontally disposed,

out Jamming. channel beams II. The rear support III also car- 'I'helatter object is, further, to shape the exitv ries the front ends ofparallel channel beams I2,

end of the gravity feed duct so as to eject the in back of and in linewith beams I I. The rear letter substantially in the direction ofmovement ends of beams I2 are supported by a stairway of the conveyingmechanism. II. Beams II and II are bolted to the flanges at 20 Theobject is, further, to shape the exit end of I the upper ends ofsupports III. Bolted to the hotthe gravity feed duct so as to elect theletter with tom flanges of beams I I and I! are transverse a less speedthan that which is a function of the T-bars H which extend laterallypast the beams angle of the upper portion of the duct. I i and on theirextended portions carry sections of It is also an object to provide amail gravity, [the cat-walk I (see Figs. 1. and T he feed duct which ismore vertical at the upper, encat-walk is fixed the guard railing I8.trance, end than at the lower, exit, end so that Bolted to the verticalsides of beams II are the the maximum number of such ducts may beopposite'sldes ll of mail insert cabinets C. As placed in series, onebehind another, without" shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cabinets C areargravity feeding the letters at too great a speed, ge e e nd a t erebeams II are 30 yet with no sacrifice of compactness. made in lengths,each sufllcient to carry five cab- An object also is to curve the exitend of a inets C. If ten, or any other multiple of the live wall of thegravity duct so as to cam the letter, cabinets C, are to be used, thenumber of lengths as it encounters the conveying means, completely ofbeams II is correspondingly increased and a onto the conveying means. 1suitable number of supports III is provided. The

It is a further object to provide a mail guiding rear portion of themachine, comprising beams I 2 and feeding means by which a letter iseffectively and stairway It, may be referred to as the stairs andsmoothly fed to the receiving pocket while section, and the latter isalways attached to the the letter stands on thesame edge. rear end ofthe machine, regardless of the length 40 Still another object is to feedarticles such as of the machine. 40

pieces of mail, by a common conveyor, along par- Horizontal channel barsit, of U-shaped crossallel guide channels to a common exit line and tosection are flanged at opposite ends to be bolted transmit the articlesfrom the exit line of the to the sides of the beams II. One such crossbar diflerent channels to receiving means spaced at II is located infront of each cabinet unit C. Verdifferent distances longitudinally fromsaid exit tical guide plates I! are pendently supported by 45 line. thebars II. The plates I! are of a length suited Another object is to feedarticles by a common to five cabinet units. The plates I8 are securedconveyor along channels to a common exit line to the bars I8 by means oftabs 20 extending from and to transmit the articles as they leave thethe plates and insertable in slots 2| of the bars channels at the exitline to receiving means at (see Figs. 8 and 9). After the tabs 20 arepro- 50 different levels. truded through the slots of bars II, they arebent Other objects will appear from the following over to rigidly securethe guide plates I8 to the parts of the specification and from thedrawings. bars. A reinforcing channel bar 22 is then se- Fig. 1 is aplan view of the machine, cured to bar It to form with the latter arigid Fig. 2 is a section along lines 2-2 oi Fig. 1, box-sectionstructure.

Each plate i8 has five upwardly formed ears l8a, spaced according to thespacing of the cabinet units, and each ear I extends between the sidesll of one cabinet unit. The front wall 24 of a cabinet unit is bolted tothe sides l1 and is fastened to cars l8a by tab and slot connectionssuch as between plates l8 and bar l8. A spacer bar 28 is similarlyinterlocked with ears I80. at

the sides of the latter opposite the front wall 24.

Above spacer bar 28 are spacer bars 28 and 21. Between bars 28 and 21and front wall 24 are provided partition plates 28 of a cabinet unit.These plates 28 are interlocked with bars 28 and 21 and front wall 24 bytab and slot connections such as previously described. Each partition 28is formed at its lower end with an offset portion 2811 (see Fig. 10) Tothe offset portion is welded an oppositely offset strip 28b, the upperpart of which lies within the angle formed at the junction of thepartition with its offset end 2841.

Thus, the outer face of the upper part of strip 28b lies substantiallywithin the same plane as the plane of partition 28. The upper edge ofstrip 28b is smoothly beveled so as to leave no abrupt edge extendingoutside the planes of the upper part of strip 281) and the adjacent partof partition 28. The upper and lower parts of strip 28 are joined by aninclinedportion. Thus, the face of a letter feeding downwardly alongplate 28 will encounter no obstruction but will ride smoothly off theend of the plate and onto the surface of strip 28b.

' Parts 28a and 28b thus form a channel at the lower end of the plate 28which extends along the entire width of the plate. This channel receivesthe upper end of an ear No of a guide plate l9, as indicated in Fig. 10.All the guide plates are similarly Jointed to the partitions 28, andthis joint is such as to present no obstruction to the smooth travel ofa letter as it rides off the partition and onto the surface of the earl8a of the guide plate. I

Furthermore, the above Joints between partitions 28 and parts l8a ofguide plates l8 permit expansion and contraction of these elements uponchanges in temperature, without the slightest tendency of either ofthese elements to buckle.

The side walls l1 of a cabinet unit C are connected to each other bybrace rods 88. To the front wall 24 of a cabinet and at the upper end ofthe wall is attached an angle bar 82. The upper flange of bar 82removably carries an indicating strip 88, on which are marked suitableindications (see Figs. 1 and 2) for designating destinations of themail. Each indication on strip 88 is in front of and in line withthe-duct formed by two adjacent partitions 28.

Bolted to the side plates ll of a cabinet unit are vertical posts 88supporting between them, at a distance from the top of the cabinet, ashelf 88 on which boxes of mail may be rested.

Between the cabinet units are cover plates 81 for guide plates l8--l8a,resting freely on the upper edges of the guide plates. Floor plates 38are also disposed between the cabinet units and rest freely on top ofchannel bars II and I2 and on top of bars 22. I

Front wall 24 of a cabinet unit C carries a plate 48 rounded at theupper end to receive the concaved left end (Fig. 5) of a sheet metaltable 41 on which boxes of mail may be placed. Near their right handends, the sides of a table 4| are recessed to receive the upper rod 88of the cabinet unit behind the table. Thus, the table may he slid alongon its opposite supports along the a,11s,sos

width of a cabinet unit. The table may also be freely lifted off itssupports and removed.

In front of each cabinet unit is an operator's seat 42, the carrier 48of which is slotted to seat on the upper cross rod 88 of the cabinetbehind the seat. The carrier 48 is provided with a depending bar 44abutting the lower brace rod 88 of the cabinet in back of the seat. Thecarrier and seat maybe slid along the width of the cabinet, and may befreely lifted off rod 88.

The stair section, is similarly provided with an operator's seat infront of the rear or right hand cabinet unit C.

The front or left hand ends of guide plates 18 are channeled similarlyto the lower ends of partitions 28 and receive in these channels therear ends of separator plates 48. Plates 48 are in the sameverticalplanes as the plates IS with which they are interlocked, but within itsplane, each plate 48 has its upper and lower edges formed along parallelcurves.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the separator plates 48 are arranged in fivegroups; two end groups, a central group, and two intermediate groups.The plates of the two end groups are the shortest (see Fig. 4), theplates of the intermediate groups are longer and extend further forwardand beyond the plates of the end groups, and the plates of the centralgroup are the longest and extend forwardly completely beyond theintermediate group of plates 48.

Each group of plates 48 is secured by tab and slot connections, such aspreviously described, to top and bottom curved metal sheets 48 and 41.To stiffen the tab and slot joints, cross bars 48 are provided and thetabs go through the sheets 48 and 41 and then through the cross barsagainst the outer face of which they are bent.

Plates 48 are thus held in definite vertical, spaced, planes by theirconnections with the top and bottom sheets 48 and .41. Together withthese sheets, plates 48 form curved end passages, extending horizontallyat their upper ends where they join the exits of the horizontal passagesbetween guide plates l8 and gradually curving into vertical lower ends.

As indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, the upper portions of the differentgroups of end passages are in hori-' zontal alinement and bottom sheets41 of the different groups of passagesare disposed at their upper endsin a common, substantially horizontal, plane. Across these ends of thebottom sheets is welded anangle bar 88 which rigidly holds all thegroups of end chutes together. Thus, the end passage structure is puttogether to form a rigid unit assembly, the plates 48 of which are to beinterlocked simultaneously with the exit ends of the guide plates l8.When thus interlocked, the vertical flange of bar 88 abuts the front ofan angle iron 8| secured to the left hand support l8 (Fig. 5). After theend passage assembly has been set in interlocking relation toplates is,the vertical flange of bar 88 is bolted to the abutting flange of angleiron 8|. The end passage unit is thereby rigidly secured to theframework of the machine.

The top sheets 48 of the groups of end passages have covers 82 hingedthereto and which may be in the manner and for the purposes previouslydescribed. The blades 55 are vertical along/their upper parts where theyjoin the plates 45 and then gradually curve in a direction transverse tothe planes of plates 45, I9, and 28 to provide lower horizontallyextending ends. Each blade 55 terminates above and extends slightly pastthe upper. edge of the vertical rear wall of a plate 55 bent similarlyto blades 55.

Plates 55 form the rear and bottom sides of a letter receptacle 51. Thereceptacles associated with each group of end passage plates 45 arearranged in two series or sets, one series at each side of theassociated group of plates 45. The receptacles of each series arevertically disposed, one above another. Blades 55 leading to one seriesare bent horizontally in an opposite direc-' tion to that in which theblades 55 leading to the other series of receptacles are bent, and sincethe receptacles of each set are in vertical arrangement, the blades 45leading thereto are of different lengths.

Blades 55 and receptacle plates 55 are secured by tab and slotconnections, such as previously described, to front and rear side plates58 and 59. These side plates form the opposite sides of receptacles 51,and together with blades 55 define closed chutes leading to thereceptacles.

The uppermost receptacle 51 of each set and the uppermost chute leadingthereto are covered by a common cover 50.

Between the front and intermediate group of receptacles 51 and betweenthe latter group and the rear group of receptacles are located generallyU-shaped bars 52, the shape of one being shown in Fig. '7. The legs ofthese bars 52 terminate in feet 53 resting on the ground. The bars 52are welded to the plates 58 and 59 between which they are located. Tothe back plate 59 of the rear group of receptacles is similarly welded abar 52. The bars 52 thus form upright supportsfor the receptacles 51 andthe chutes leading thereto and also rigidly connect the groups ofreceptacles and chutes to each other. The receptacles and chutes arethus built up as a rigid assembly or unit to be removably connected tothe end passages by the slip joints between the chute blades 55 and theend passage defining plates 45.

Straps 65 are bolted at one end to the rear upright 52 and at the otherend to the cross bar 55 of the front frame support I8. Straps 51 aresimilarly secured between the legs of this support In and the upper endof the rear upright 52. Thus, straps 65 and 51 removably but rigidlysecure the receptacle assembly to the machine frame. 7

The front of each receptacle 51 is partially closed by two flaps 58, onevertically hinged to the outside face of a side 58 and the othersimilarly hinged to a side 59 of the receptacle. Springs 59 normallyhold the flaps against the front edges of receptacle plates 56. Each ofthe latter plates has a slot 18, permitting the operator to engage histhumb with the bottom of a stack of mail in the receptacle and with theother fingers of the same hand grasp the stack and bring it out throughthe front of the receptacle. The flaps 58 yield to pressure and swingoutwardly to permit the stack to be removed. After the pressure of theflaps has been relieved, the flaps are returned by springs 59 to closingposition.

Horizontally pivoted to the side plates 58 and 59 of the receptacles arebuffer plates 12, one for each receptacle or pocket 51 and locatedinside the receptacle near its front end and behind the flaps 58. Studs13 provided at each side of plates 12 pass, with clearance, throughholes 14 in the side plates. Springs 15 engage studs 13 and normallyurge the plates away from the front of the pocket 51 and maintain studs13 engaged with the back of holes 14. The buffer plate meets a letterthrown off the end of a chute blade 55 and is moved by the force of thestriking letter towards the front of the receptacle, against resistanceof spring 15.

The buffer plate yields as the letter strikesit so as to prevent injuryto the contacting edge of the letter. In removing a stack of mail, inthe manner previously explained, the plate 12 may move towards the frontof the pocket 51 until its stud 13 encounters the front of the hole 14.This prevents the plate 12 from being moved to the outside of the pocketand to a position in front of the flaps 58, where it would beinoperative.

As indicated in Figs. 4 and 6, the front frame support I0 carries amotor M, the shaft of which, through a chain drive 11 rotates the shaft18 of a plain pulley 19, extending across the entire distance betweenthe beams l l. Shaft 18 is journaled in hanger blocks 80 bolted to thebottom of the spaced channel beams II at the left hand ends of thelatter. At the opposite ends, and past the right hand cabinet unit C,beams l I similarly carry blocks 82 for supporting the shaft of a pulley83. Passing around pulleys 19 and 83 is a conveyor belt 85. The lowerreach of the belt is engaged by tensioning rollers 85. The upper reachof the belt lies on a corrugated plate 81 which is secured to the top ofcross bars 14, which, as previously, explained are bolted at oppositeends to beams II. The plate 81 is corrugated to minimize the frictionbetween the belt and the plate as the belt moves across the plate. Therear or right hand end of the upper reach of the belt extends beyond thelower, exit, ends of the gravity ducts of the right hand cabinet unit C.The left hand end of the upper reach of the belt terminates flush withthe rear beveled ends of the bottom sheets 41 of the end passageassembly. Sufficient clearance is maintained between the upper reach ofthe belt and the lower edges of guide plates l9 so as to prevent contactbetween them.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

An operator is stationed in front of each cabinet unit C and supplies ofletters to be sorted are laid on tables 35 and 4| of each cabinet unit.As directed by the indications on the indicator strip 33, each operatorinserts the letters lengthwise into the ducts defined by fins 28 andears I 90.. A letter inserted lengthwise into a duct will first dropdown abruptly and smoothly pass from fin 28 to ear l9a. As the edge ofthe letter meets the curved, less steep, lower section of the front wall24 of the cabinet unit, the speed of the descent of the letter will belessened. At the same time, the letter will be turned by the lowercurved section of the duct from a position in which its length extendsnearly vertically to a position in which its length extends nearlyhorizontally. Further, the curved lower portion of the duct throws theletter off in substantially the same horizontal direction of movement,from right to left, as that of the upper reach of belt 85. Thus, theforce of the belt as it meets the lower corner of the letter turns theletter still more with its length in a horizontal direction, andproceeds to move the letter completely away from the lower end of theduct. Still further, as the letter is turned to a horizontal positionand moved to the left by belt 8!, the upper, long, edge of the lettermay encounter the curved portion of the cover plate 81 and be cammedthereby into a horizontal position and completely away from the mouth ofthe cabinet duct. The letter now rests with its lower long edge on topof the upper reach of belt 85.

After the letter passes the mouth of the duct, the conveyor belt 85moves it along the horizontal extending channels defined by guide platesIS. The letter is thus moved past the left, exit. end

of the horizontally extending channels and into the rear end of theconnected end passage formed by a pair of adjacent plates 45 and top andbottom sheets 48 and 41. The letter then drops down the herein.

end passage with the same long edge which engaged the belt also ridingon the curved lower sheet 41. The end passage turns the letter from ahorizontally extending position to a vertical position such as it hadwhen dropped down the cabinet duct. As the letter leaves the lowerterminus of the end passage, it rides onto a chute blade 55. As theletter coasts down the chute blade, it is turned from a vertical to ahorizontal plane and ejected into the pocket 51 below the chute blade.The letter leaves the chute blade with sufllcient momentum to strike itsfront edge against the buffer plate 12 of the pocket and is kicked backby the buffer plate onto the top of the stack already in the receptacle.The letter now lies flat in the pocket.

Letters to the same destination inserted in the corresponding ducts ofseveral of the cabinet units may be simultaneously fed by belt 85 alongthe same horizontally extending channel between plates Iii and will dropone after another down the connected end passageway and onto the samechute blade 55 to be ejected into the same receptacle.-

Thus, letters may be rapidly sorted to the destinations selected by theseveral operators at the cabinet units C arranged one behind anotherabove the common conveyor belt 85.

It is understood that not only letters but post cards and other cards orsimilarartlcles may be sorted by the illustrated machine described Whilethe invention has been disclosed in the form herein shown and described,it is understood that variations, departures, and changes may be made inthe form or details of the disclosed apparatus, without departing fromthe principles of the invention. It is, therefore, desired to be limitedin accordance with the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine to sortarticles such as cards or pieces of mail, comprisingchannels disposed side by side with a common channel-defining andseparating wall between them along opposite faces of which articles arefed, each channel to guide articles to a different destination, saiddefining wall including a pair of plates arranged one in continuation ofanother along the channel and having adjoining ends, an interlockingjoint between the adjoining ends of said plates provided with graduallybulging portions extending out- 2. A machine to sort articles such ascards or pieces of mail, comprising adjacent channels with acommonchannel-defining and separating wall between them along oppositefaces of which articles are fed in the same direction, said deiiningwall including a pair of sections disposed one in continuation of theother and having adjoining ends, an interlocking joint between theadjoining ends of said pair of wall sections provided with portionsbulging outwardly in the direction of feed of the articles beyondopposite faces of both sections at their adjoining ends to therebydeflect the articles as they leave opposite faces of one sectionoutwardly beyond the opposite faces of adjoining section until thearticles pass said joint, and separate receiving devices to selectivelyreceive the articles from the diiierent channels.

3. An article sorting machine having a group of adjacent guide wallsforming a group of adjacent parallel horizontally extending articleguiding channels arranged side by side for guiding articles for travelin a horizontal direction and having their exit ends at substantiallythe same level and terminating in substantial alinement,

a series of receiving pockets arranged one above another, and downwardlydirected guide elements adjoining the exit ends of the channels andterminating remote from said exit ends one above another, each above adifferent pocket, to gravityfeed articles from the channels to thepockets.

4. An article sorting machine having horizontally extending guide wallsoccupying parallel vertical planes to form adjacent parallel articleguiding channels lying side by side for guiding articles for travel in ahorizontal direction, a series of vertically spaced article receivingpockets arranged one above another, andchute blades having their upperends in the same planes as and adjoining the exit ends of the channelwalls, the chute blades extending downwardly and transversely from theiradjoining channel walls to provide substantially horizontally extendinglower ends, the chute blades being of progressively increasing length todispose their lower, horizontally extending ends one above another, witheach lower end adjoining one of the vertically spaced receiving pockets,to thereby direct articles from the guide channels to the pockets.

5. An article sorting machine comprising parallel walls forming articleguiding channels arranged side by side and having curved article guidingand supporting bottoms extending sub-- tantially horizontally at theirupper ends and curving to substantially vertical disposition at theirlower ends, the channels being arranged in groups terminating one infront of another, the channels of any one group terminating inalinement, sets of receptacles arranged side by side and extendingtransversely to the lengths of the channels, one set being disposedadjacent the front group of the channels and the other adjacent theother group of channels, and chute blades extending transversely to thelengths of the channels and leading from the lower-termini of saidchannels downwardly to the interior of said receptacles for directingarticles from each group of channels to the adjacent set of receptacles.

6. A sorting machine comprising article guiding channels arranged sideby side and running horizontally, each channel having a receiving mouthat the upper level thereof, a conveyor web underlying the channels tofeed articles therealong in one direction, and an article' insertcabinet above the channels and having article receiving gravity feedducts arranged side by side,

2,115,805 each duct in line with one oi said channels and having itslower or exit end comprised of front and rear article confining andguiding walls directly joining the mouth of the channel, said ductshaving said front and rear walls of the exit ends disposed at a greaterhorizontal inclination, in the direction 01' movement ofothe conveyorweb, than the duct portions above the exit ends to eject the articlesinto the channels substantially in the same direction as the directionof movement of the conveyor web.

'7; A sorting machine comprising article guiding channels arranged sideby side and running horizontally and defined by separating walls, eachhaving an upwardly extending fin, a conveyor web underlying the channelsfor feeding the articles therealong in one direction, and an articleinsert cabinet above the channels and having article receiving gravityfeed ducts arranged side by side, each having an exit end in line withone of said channels and including front and rear walls terminating atthe top of the alined channel and having as its side walls the pair offins extending from the adjacent channel-defining walls, whereby saidexit end comprises a four-sided article guiding and confining chute, andsaid cabinet having duct-defining side partitions the lower ends ofwhich join the upper ends of the fins to form upwardly but separablecontinuations thereof, said ducts being more nearly vertical at theirupper than at their lower, exit ends, to ejectthe articles in a morenearly horizontal direction into the connected channel and onto theconveyor web.

8. An article sorting machine comprising article guiding channelsarranged side by side and running horizontally, a conveyor webunderlying the channels for feeding the articles therealong in onedirection, and an article insert cabinet having parallel walls to formthe sides of gravity feed ducts for articles inserted therein and havinga front wall common to all said ducts and connected to the side walls ofthe ducts to secure the side walls in definite spaced parallel planes,

each duct having its lower exit end or portion defined by a section ofsaid front wall and a substantially parallel rear wall section, saidfront and rear wall sections confining and guiding the articles as theydrop down the duct, the exit portion of each duct opening on a differentone of said channels to eject articles thereinto, and said exit portionshaving their front and rear article guiding wall sections inclined morehorizontally, in the direction of movement of the conveyor web, than theremainder of the ducts above the exit end to direct the articles as theyleave the ducts more nearly in the direction of movement of the conveyorweb and the front wall being continuous at its lower end with the top ofthe channels.

9. A sorting machine comprising article guiding channels arranged sideby side and running horizontally, a conveyor web underlying the channelsfor feeding the articles therealong in one direction, an article insertcabinet having a series of ducts arranged side by side each in line withone of the channels for gravity feeding inserted articles to thechannels, and a cam surface provided at the exit end of each duct andinclined,

' relatively to the portion of the duct above the 10. A sorting machinecomprising a narrow guide channel guiding substantially fiat articlessuch as cards or pieces of mail while the articles are verticallydisposed, a conveyor web forming a moving bottom of the channel,engaging an edge of the article in the channel and moving in a directionto feed the articles along the channel to the discharge end of thelatter, a narrow gravity chute to receive the articles in verticaldisposition and having its lower exit portion adjoining the channel tolead the articles, dropped into the chute, from the chute and into thechannel and onto the conveyor web, said exit portion being inclinedrelatively to the upper portion of the chute and relatively to theconveyor in the direction of movement of the web to discharge thearticles into the channel in a direction sub-'- stantially but notentirely the same as the direction of movement of the conveyor web, saidexit portion being defined by front and rear inclined walls having theirlower termini at thesame level as the top of the channel whereby thearticles are guided and confined by the front and rear walls of the exitportion until after they have intruded into the channel.

11. A sorting machine comprising a narrow guide channel provided with anupper receiving mouth for receiving vertically disposed flat articlessuch as cards or pieces of mail, a conveyor web forming a moving bottomof the channel and on which an edge of an article in the channel restswhile the conveyor is moving the article in one direction along thechannel, a narrow gravity chute open at the upper end to insertablyreceive the articles and gravity feed them while the articles aredisposed in a vertical plane, said gravity chute having an exit endjoining the channel mouth and inclined, relatively to the rest of thechute, in the direction of movement of the web to eject the articlesinto the channel substantially in said direction of movement of the web,said exit end being defined by front and rear walls engaging oppositeedges of the article in the chute and terminating at the same level asthe top of the channel at either side of the channel mouth, with thefront wall also serving as a portion of the top cover of the channel,whereby the front and rear walls of the exit end guide and confine anarticle dropped down the chute in a vertical plane until after thearticle has intruded into the channel and an edge thereof dropped ontothe conveyor web.

12. A machine to sort fiat articles such as pieces of mail or cards,comprising substantially horizontal, parallel guide channels to maintainthe articles in vertical position while guiding the articles, eachchannel having an upper, receiving mouth, a conveyor web forming acommon moving bottom for the channels and feeding the articles in thechannels while the articles have one edge resting on the web, and anarticle insert cabinet having narrow ducts to gravity-feed the articleswhile the latter are in vertical planes into the channels, said ductshaving their lower, exit ends directly joining the mouths of alinedchannels to confine and guide the articles until after they enter thechannels, and each exit end being inclined more nearly horizontally thanthe remainder of the duct and comprising a curved camming wall forengaging the upper edge of an article while the article is in inclinedposition within the channel with a lower corner resting on the conveyorweb and being moved by the web towards the said wall, to cam the moving,inclined article downwardly into the channel and turn the article intosubstantially horizontal position in which its lower edge is restingcompletely on the conveyor belt. i

13. A machine to sort flat articles such as cards or pieces of mail,comprising a group of adjacent, substantially horizontal parallel andnarrow channels to guide articles for horizontal travel whlledlsposed invertical planes along said channels, a conveyor forming a commonrmovingbottom for said channels and supporting the articles on their loweredges while feeding them along said channels, said group 01' channelshaving discharge oriiices in transverse alinement and located in acommon plane substantially coextensive with the leading end oi theconveyor lap whereby said conveyor positively feeds the articles throughand out of the discharge orifices of said channels, a group of adjacentdownwardly inclined article directing and guiding devices having upperends alined with the channels and adjoining and continuous with thedischarge oriflces oi the horizontal channels to receive articlesleaving the channels. said devices including directing elements disposedin substantially the same direction, with at least their terminalporcles from the different channels to vertically spaced locations.

a,11s,sos

14. A machine to sort flat articles such'ls cards or pieces of mail,comprising a plurality of groups oi adjacent, substantially horizontalparallel and narrow channelhto guide articles vertically disposed withinthe channels, a conveyor lap forming a moving bottom ior all thechannels of said groups to support articles on their lower edges whilefeeding them along said channels, said groups of channels havingdischarge orifices terminating in a common transverse plane insubstantial'alinement with the leading end of the conveyor lap wherebythe latter positively feeds the articles out of the discharge o'rlilcesoi all said channels, and groups of downwardly inclined chutes, all withtheir upper ends ad- Joining the discharge orifices 01' said channels,

each group 01' chutes to receive articles from a different group of saidchannels, said groups of chutes being of different length, terminatingat their lower ends one in front or another to feed the articlesreceived from the corresponding channel groups different distanceslongitudinally away from the alined discharge orifices 01' said channelsto emit the articles from the different channel groups at longitudinallyspaced locations.

FREDERICK L. FULLER.

Patent No. 2,115,805.

May 5 195B FREDERICK L, FULLER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in .the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5,first column, line 29, claim], for the word "upwardly" read upward; page6, first column, line 15, claim 15, strike out the word "lap"; and thatthe said Letters Patent should be readwith these corrections thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the ease in the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of 'July, A. D. 1938.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdiale, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

turn the article into substantially horizontal position in which itslower edge is resting completely on the conveyor belt. i

13. A machine to sort flat articles such as cards or pieces of mail,comprising a group of adjacent, substantially horizontal parallel andnarrow channels to guide articles for horizontal travel whlledlsposed invertical planes along said channels, a conveyor forming a commonrmovingbottom for said channels and supporting the articles on their loweredges while feeding them along said channels, said group 01' channelshaving discharge oriiices in transverse alinement and located in acommon plane substantially coextensive with the leading end oi theconveyor lap whereby said conveyor positively feeds the articles throughand out of the discharge orifices of said channels, a group of adjacentdownwardly inclined article directing and guiding devices having upperends alined with the channels and adjoining and continuous with thedischarge oriflces oi the horizontal channels to receive articlesleaving the channels. said devices including directing elements disposedin substantially the same direction, with at least their terminalporcles from the different channels to vertically spaced locations.

a,11s,sos

14. A machine to sort flat articles such'ls cards or pieces of mail,comprising a plurality of groups oi adjacent, substantially horizontalparallel and narrow channelhto guide articles vertically disposed withinthe channels, a conveyor lap forming a moving bottom ior all thechannels of said groups to support articles on their lower edges whilefeeding them along said channels, said groups of channels havingdischarge orifices terminating in a common transverse plane insubstantial'alinement with the leading end of the conveyor lap wherebythe latter positively feeds the articles out of the discharge o'rlilcesoi all said channels, and groups of downwardly inclined chutes, all withtheir upper ends ad- Joining the discharge orifices 01' said channels,

each group 01' chutes to receive articles from a different group of saidchannels, said groups of chutes being of different length, terminatingat their lower ends one in front or another to feed the articlesreceived from the corresponding channel groups different distanceslongitudinally away from the alined discharge orifices 01' said channelsto emit the articles from the different channel groups at longitudinallyspaced locations.

FREDERICK L. FULLER.

Patent No. 2,115,805.

May 5 195B FREDERICK L, FULLER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in .the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5,first column, line 29, claim], for the word "upwardly" read upward; page6, first column, line 15, claim 15, strike out the word "lap"; and thatthe said Letters Patent should be readwith these corrections thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the ease in the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of 'July, A. D. 1938.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdiale, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

